Using A Drill as a polisher... Safe?

I

imported_Jeeper

New member
Hello Guys



I have just bought a foam pad from Bosch that can be mounted on a drill, the thing is that I have never tried this method before (actually never tried any method! :grinno: ) therefore I need your advice guys if using a polishing pad powered by a heavy duty drill is safe for my car's paint or not? I wont touch my car untill you guys reply:help:



Thank you in advance
 
Jeeper said:
Hello Guys



I have just bought a foam pad from Bosch that can be mounted on a drill, the thing is that I have never tried this method before (actually never tried any method! :grinno: ) therefore I need your advice guys if using a polishing pad powered by a heavy duty drill is safe for my car's paint or not? I wont touch my car untill you guys reply:help:



Thank you in advance
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TOP TIP : Remove the bit first :lol



If this is your first go with a machine on paintwork, I'd avoid it BIG time......it's more of a rotary polisher, which in the wrong hands (such as mine) could cause more damage than you can even imagine possible.



Be safe, don't do it :xyxthumbs
 
One of the problems I see with a drill is that most drills don't have a way to set a constant speed. So, you would be concentrating quite a bit on keeping the speed constant and not enough on working the polish. You would sort of be feathering the trigger which might cause some holograms. Plus, like it was mentioned above, a drill is like a rotary. Rotarys aren't suggested for first time machine users.
 
What Patrick said. I use the Powerball and a cordless drill to polish my aluminum wheels. I also use it to polish aluminum and chrome on the engine and outside (A/C compressor, valve covers, bumpers, exhaust tips, etc.). Besides the difficulty in setting a constant speed with a drill, pointing downward and polishing large and high horizontal surfaces (especially roofs) would not be very easy for a drill (from an ergonomic standpoint). If you really want to try it, doors and fenders might be easier, but check the maximum rpm for your drill, and practice on junk panels before you get near a real car.
 
There was a post on here a year or so ago about some one who used a drill and pad combo to polish his paint...he burnt the paint and some plastic trim also..plus when he hit a trim piece it almost ripped the drill out of his hand and do damage to the car....



I would not use this method..maybe for a spot repair TOPS..but to do the whole car..NO



AL
 
I wouldn't use it. I've been using my orbital polisher for more than a year now and I still don't feel comfortable (even afraid) to use a rotary.:nervous2:

You could always practice on your fridge or washing machine.;)
 
Oh.. you guys scared the $hit out of me :scared: , anyway I went and bought mself a rotary from GMC for around $81, it looked great when compared to the one I wanted to buy from bosch. (I think it can reach up to 6000rpm but recommended max 3800rpm when polishing) I also have a buffer from Black and Decker which I have used for some time.
 
Jeeper said:
Oh.. you guys scared the $hit out of me :scared: , anyway I went and bought mself a rotary from GMC for around $81, it looked great when compared to the one I wanted to buy from bosch. (I think it can reach up to 6000rpm but recommended max 3800rpm when polishing) I also have a buffer from Black and Decker which I have used for some time.
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Oh boy.....I'd stick it on ebay, and put the money towards a Porter Cable. The "extra" that you'll have to spend on buying a PC still won't be as much as sticking the car in a bodyshop with 'burnt' paint
 
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